We received the invitation below to submit work for an upcoming exhibition, and would like to share it with our members.

Botanical Beauty: Botanical art open (25 February – 1 April 2017)

Deadline for submissions: Monday 2 January 2017

Submissions by post only to: Botanical Beauty, Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ.

Through its annual open exhibition opportunities, Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham helps artists locally and nationally to showcase their work in group exhibitions at Orleans House Gallery and Stables Gallery in Twickenham and the Riverside Gallery in Richmond.

Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, colour and details of a plant species. Although scientifically accurate, studies are often artistic and aesthetically pleasing. This tradition of marrying art with science goes back to the 6^th century when the first botanical illustrations were created. The heyday of botanical art was from the 17^th to the 19^th century. In recent years, there has been a renaissance in this genre. This open exhibition showcases contemporary British botanical illustrations in a variety of styles.

Artists can submit up to 5 works. Artworks must be submitted as A4 good quality print outs. In addition, please save the images onto a CD or memory stick as jpeg files.

Original artwork or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

Please clearly label each submission with: artist’s name, title of work, date, media, approximate size and sale price (to include the gallery’s 40% commission + 20% VAT on the 40% commission). Please enclose contact details including email and postal address and contact telephone numbers, an artist’s statement and CV. Please complete and return the accompanying submission form.

There is a £10.00 administration charge (which contributes towards exhibition costs); £7.50 concessions (students, retired, unwaged, benefits). Please include proof. Please make cheques payable to ‘L.B.R.U.T’. You can also pay by card by calling the gallery on 020 8831 6000. Your submission will not be accepted without payment. If you would like submissions returned, please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope. Successful artists will be contacted by phone or email about a week after the deadline.
Queries to curator Mark De Novellis at m.denovellis@richmond.gov.uk

Submission form (PDF): botanical-beauty-submission-form

We had a very successful event on Saturday 15th October, when members were able to take time to meet up and discuss the exhibition while enjoying afternoon tea. There was also an opportunity to talk about upcoming exhibitions and to give suggestions for the direction and future of the Society.

Members who were unable to come along were invited to pass along their suggestions via email.

Congratulations to Sharon Fox for winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’, sponsored by Barrie Scott and Co.

Sharon Fox with her award-winning painting

Congratulations also to our members whose work was selected as highly commended:

Nicola Macartney

Anne Carlaw

Hazel Morris

Aileen Friis-Jorgensen

Also, our congratulations to Kathy, whose painting was voted the best in the George Forrest category by the jury.

Kathy Munro

‘Enchanted Forrest’ at The Park Gallery, Callendar House, Callendar Park, Falkirk, FK1 1YR, from Monday 12th September to Sunday 16th October

Plants discovered by George Forrest, Falkirk-born botanist and plant collector

Application to Exhibit